Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for mastering a robot

US4892457A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
7References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 11, 1988
Grant dateJan 9, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 11, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB25J9/1692
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for mastering a robot includes two balls, each of which has a spherical surface configured to simultaneously contact its respective set of mutually orthogonal locating surfaces of a fixture only when the robot is in a predetermined reference position and orientation. The fixture is mounted on a pedestal of the robot base in a fixed spatial position. One of the balls is mounted for movement with a free end of an outer arm of an arm assembly of the robot. The robot also includes a wrist mechanism. A first end of the wrist mechanism is connected to the free end of the outer arm and a second end of the wrist mechanism is adapted to support a tool. The second ball is mounted for movement with the second end of the wrist mechanism. First and second clamping mechanisms are associated with a fixture and their respective balls for clamping their respective balls so that the generally spherical surfce of each of the balls simultaneously contacts each of the surfaces of its set of locating surfaces to thereby secure the robot in the predetermined spatial position and orientation. Each of the clamping mechanisms includes a circular clamping surface having a center. Each clamping m…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.